Photographic product comprising a sheet support and means for collecting liquid spread upon said support in excess of that required to cover a predetermined area of the support



Aug. 17, 1954 Filed April 16, 1949 E. H. LAND PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT COMPRISING A SHEET SUPPORT AND MEANS FOR COLLECTING LIQUID SPREAD UPON SAID SUPPORT IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED TO COVER A PREDETERMINED AREA OF THE SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Aug. 17, 1954 LAND 2,686,716

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT COMPRISING A SHEET SUPPORT AND MEANS FOR COLLECTING LIQUID SPREAD UPON SAID SUPPORT IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED TO COVER A PREDETERMINED AREA OF THE! SUPPORT Filed April 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patentecl Aug. 17, 1954 PHGTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT COMPRISING A SHEET SUPFORT AND MEANS FOR COL- LECTING LIQUID SPREAD UPON SAID SUP- PORT IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED TO COVER A PREDETERMINED AREA OF THE SUPPORT Edwin H. Land, Cambridge, Mass, assignor to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application April 16, 1949, Serial No. 87,911

16 Claims.

This invention relates to photography and more particularly to novel sheet-like photographic products releasably carrying a photographic processing liquid for producing a predetermined processing of an exposed photosensitive material by spreading. of said liquid across a surface of said photosensitive material, said products including liquid-spreading surfaces. This application is in part a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 641,810, filed January 17, 1946, is in part a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 657,365, filed March 27, 1946, and is in part a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 657,367 filed March 27, 1946, all now abandoned.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a photographic product including a sheet-like liquid-confining layer and comprising, arranged in order along said product, a liquidcontaining portion, an image area portion and a liquid-trapping portion, the liquid-containing portion being arranged so that the liquid, prior to use of the product, is confined in a relatively thick layer of small area in said liquid-containing portion in position to be spread from said liquid-containing portion in a relatively thin layer across said image area portion and, the trapping portion being so arranged that all the excess liquid is confined in a relatively small area in the trapping portion.

Another object of the invention is, to provide a product of the above type wherein two superposable liquid-confining layers are provided, one of these layers including a photosensitive portion, and wherein the liquid-containing portion of the product is arranged to permit release and spreading of the processing liquid between the two superposed liquid-confining layers.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a product of the types mentioned above wherein a viscous liquid is employed and the product is so arranged that the spreading pressure within the liquid is at least partially relieved during spreading of the liquid across the trapping portion.

Still another ob'iect of the invention is to provide a product or" the above types which is particularlyeffective for trapping excess liquid when the liquid is spread between the liquid-confining layers by means of a pair of fixed gap pressure-applying members.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a product of the above types wherein an image produced on. one, of the liquid-confining layers may be readily separated from the rest of the liquid-confining layer.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the product possessing the features, properties and the relation of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope or" the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an exaggerated diagrammatic isometric view of one preferred product of the invention with parts thereof cut away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic enlarged sectional view of the product of Fig. 1 showing the relationship of the elements thereof during use thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a sectional View taken along the line as of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing another modification of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic, exaggerated, enlarged isometric view of another modification of the invention showing the operation of the trapping portion of the novel product with the other liquid-confining layer being eliminated for simplicity of illustration;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of still another modification of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing still another formof the invention; and

Fig. 9 is an exaggerated sectional view of still another modification of the invention.

in general this invention relates to a novel photographic product containing all of the material, including a photographic reagent, and in the amount required to produce a transformation of an image, in the product itself, or in a photosensitive layer portion brought into superposed relationship with the product. The product preferably is in the form of a film unit comprising a first liquid-confining layer, including a photosensitive portion capable of having an image formed therein upon photoexposure, and a second liquid-confining layer superposable with the first liquid-confining layer. The product includes, arranged in order along said product, a liquid-containing portion, an image area portion and a liquid-trapping portion. The liquidcontaining portion preferably comprises a rupaces/71c turable container holding a viscous processing liquid. The viscosity is preferably quite high and is preferably obtained by the use of a thickening agent, a preferred type of thickening agent comprising a dispersion, preferably a solution, of a film-forming colloid, such as a film-forming plastic, protein or carbohydrate. The liquid is in excess of the minimum amount required for producing the above-mentioned transformation of an image formed by photoexposure of the photosensitive portion. The container is arranged for releasing its contained liquid between the two-liquid confining layers adjacent one edge of the image area in position to be spread across this image area between the two liquid-confining layers in a layer of a predetermined optimum thickness.

In a film unit of this type the release and spreading of the released liquid is preferably accomplished by passing the film unit between a pair of pressure surfaces, such as a pair of pressure rolls, for example. Since it is desirable that the film unit be usable under extremely widely varying conditions of temperature, humidity and other varying characteristics, which may create irregularities in the release of the liquid from the container or in the actual spreading thereof, it is desirable to include in the container more liquid than the absolute minimum required for covering just the image area to the predetermined depth of liquid. The passage of the film unit between a pair of pressure rolls, for example, also poses the problem of nonuniform release of the liquid from the container due to the possibility of nonuniform rupture thereof. During the spreading of the liquid there is nonrectilinear distribution of the liquid as the quantity of liquid being spread decreases. This results in a spread which, during the initial part thereof, tends to expand towards the edges of the superposed layers and, during the latter part of the spread, tends to contract to a narrow tongue near the centers of the superposed layers. In the present invention there is provided an ample amount of liquid in the container so that the tongue or" liquid does not contract sufiiciently in the image area portion of the product so as to leave any of the image area uncovered. Thus there is enough liquid to assure a complete coverage of the image area with a predetermined layer of liquid. This amount of liquid is preferably sufficient to give complete coverage even under adverse conditions of temperature and humidity and even allowing for some maldistribution of the liquid due to nonuniform rupture of the container.

The present invention is primarily directed to the provision of a film unit of the type described above wherein the excess liquid initially provided is neatly trapped between the two liquid-confining layers so that it does not contact any of the spreading members in a camera, for example. The present invention, in a preferred form, also traps the excess liquid so that it is not readily contacted by the user of the camera after processing of the photosensitive material. When the individual film unit is a part of a longer photographic product, comprising a plurality of sequentially arranged containers, image areas and trapping portions, the trapping portion of the present invention also prevents passage of liquid, used for processing one image area, onto the succeeding image area.

In the present invention the trapping portion of the product broadly comprises portions of the two liquid-confining layers which, when superposed, define therebetween a space in which the excess liquid may be confined in a layer thicker than the predetermined layer in the image area portion. This space in the trapping portion has a volume which is at least as great as the diffeernce between the volume of liquid to be spread in the predetermined layer in the image area portion and the volume of liquid initially held by the container. In a preferred arrangement of the liquid-confining layers they are so constructed that, when the outer surfaces of the two liquidconfining layers are substantially flat and parallel, these two layers in the trapping. portion of the product define a greater volume per unit area than the free volume per unit area which is defined by the inner surfaces of the two liquidconfining layers in the image area portion of the product. In one preferred form of the invention the liquid-confining layers are so arranged that, when the outer surfaces thereof are flat and parallel, the inner surfaces of these layers in the trapping portion are spaced farther apart than the inner surfaces of the layers in the image area portion. This relationship is preferably obtained by providing a. cutaway portion of one of the liquid-confining layers.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown one preferred modification of the invention wherein the product preferably comprises the two liquidconfining layers, one of these two layers including the photosensitive portion. In this modification the trapping portion of the product includes a cutaway portion defining a recess in one of the liquid-confining layers which, when superposed with the other layer, provides the relatively greater volume in which the excess liquid may be confined and trapped in a layer thicker than the predetermined layer to be spread across the image area portion.

In Fig. 1 the two liquid-confining layers are shown at H! and [2, these liquid-confining layers It) and I2 preferably being portions of longer layers including a plurality of individual film units. Liquid-confining layer It preferably comprises a suitable base I 4 carrying a photosensitive emulsion layer E6 on one surface thereof. This photosensitive layer preferably comprises a silver halide and has an area 56a thereof adapted to be exposed to actinic light for the creation therein of a latent negative image. The liquidconfining layer 12 preferably comprises a base [8 carrying an image-receiving layer 2H on one surface thereof. The image-receiving layer 2f) has a predetermined surface area 22 thereof which is particularly adapted to receive a print, such as a positive image, of the latent negative image formed by exposure of the photosensitive image area lfia carried by liquid-confining layer It. This printreceiving or positive image area 22 is preferably outlined by means of a plurality of perforations 24 extending through the layer 52 so as to be separable from the remainder of the liquidconfining layer l2. For initiating removal of image'area 22, by tearing this image area from the remainder of the layer, there is provided a tear out hole 25, this tear out hole preferably extendin completely through the layer [2.

When the two liquid-confining layers I0 and :2 are superposed they form a product having, arranged in order along the product, a liquidcontaining portion, an image area portion and a trapping portion. The liquid-containing portion preferably comprises a container 26, shown as being secured to the liquid-confining layer l2, and overlying the tear out hole 25. Container 26 is preferably collapsible, being formed of a flexible-walled liquid-impervious material, being sealed at the ends and having a sealed liquidreleasing mouth or lip 28 along that edge of the container which is closest to the adjacent edge of the image area 22. The container 26 preferably includes a predetermined quantity of a viscous processin liquid 30, a preferred type of liquid comprising a viscous aqueous alkaline solution of an organic film-forming material, a silver halide developer and a silver halide solvent. The trappin portion of the product shown in Fig. 1 comprises a portion of the image-receiving layer 20 which is cut away, as at 32, to define a trapping space 34 in which the excess liquid 33 may be confined.

In Fig. 1 the approximate path, with relation to the above-identified elements, followed by the liquid 30 during release and spreading thereof, is shown by the dotted lines 38a. As can be seen, this path starts out from the container mouth it with a width about equal to the width of the image area 22, as defined by the longitudinal perforations 2 The liquid then spreads out towards the edges of the layer 1'? and the outer limits of the liquid spread lie between the longitudinal perforations 24 and the edges of the liquid-confining layer [2. When the liquid has been spread sufficiently far along the product, so as to completely cover image area 22, the width of the liquid spread commences to decrease so that all of the excess thereof passes into the space 34 defined by the cutaway portions 32.

The actual mechanics of spreading and trapping of the liquid are shown best in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, these figures being enlarged, exaggerated sectional views of the Fig. 1 modification of the invention during the use thereof. In these. figures, like numbers correspond to like elements of the other figures. During the processing of an individual film unit encompassed by the product of the present invention, the predetermined image area 6a of the photosensitive layer It is first exposed in a suitable manner, such as in a camera. The exposed photosensitive layer it is then superposed with the image-receiving layer 26 so that the exposed area l6a coincides with the image area 22. The two superposed liquidconfining layers 56 and i2, with the container 26 therebetween, are then passed between a pair of pressure-applying surfaces to cause the release and spreading of the liquid 30 between the facing surfaces of these two superposed liquid-confining layers. The pressure-applying surfaces are shown in their preferred form as a pair of pressure rolls 36 and 38, these rolls preferably having a predetermined fixed gap therebetween. This gap between the rolls is preferably surficiently greater than the total thickness of the two liquid-confining layers Hi and [2 by an amount on the order of the thickness desired for the layer of liquid 3% to be spread between the facing surfaces of the photosensitive layer and the image-receiving layer 25). When a silver image is to be formed on the surface of the image-receiving layer 29 it is desirable to spread a layer of the liquid 30 having a wet thickness on the order of about ..002 inch. With one preferred type of liquid composition this gives a dry thickness on the order of .0001 to .0003 inch. The design and dimensions of the various suitable pressure-applying surfaces for giving such a predetermined thickness of spread are discussed more fully in the copending application of Edwin HaLand, Murry N. Fairbank and David S.

6 Grey, Serial No. 790,064, filed December 6, 1947, now Patent No. 2,483,014.

Due to the fixed gap arrangement of the pressure rolls 36 and 38, the liquid 30, released from the container mouth 23, is spread between the facing surfaces of the photosensitive layer It and the image-receiving layer 25 in a layer of a predetermined fixed thickness. When the trapping portion of the product passes between rolls 36 and 38 there is defined between liquidconfining layers iii and I2 a greater volume per unit area than existed in the image area portion of the product. This is due to the fact that the portion 32 of the image-receiving layer 26 has been cut away, leaving the space 34 in which the liquid can. be confined in a relatively thick layer between the facing surfaces of the photosensitive layer it and the base layer i8. This accordingly allows all the excess liquid to be confined in a relatively small area of the product, thereby resulting in a saving of materials and preventing escape of the liquid.

Examination of Fig. 3 shows the transverse distribution of the excess liquid in the trapping space 34. Figs. 3 and 4 also show a preferred arrangement of the mounting for the pressure rolls 3% and 38. This mounting is preferably such that at least one of the rolls can move away from the other roll under a high pressure generated between the rolls. One preferred type of such a mounting for the two pressure rolls comprises a bearing block tii adapted to receive axles s2 and 35 associated, respectively, with rolls 36 and 3t. Axle it is carried in a slot 5% in bearing block W, axle 4-4 being shown flush with the upper end of the slot 65. The axle 34 is normally held in contact with the upper end of slot 45 by means of a bearing member 43 which urges axle it upwardly under the influence of a spring 59. Thus the slot at and the spring 50 normally maintain the roll 3.8 in the position shown so that rolls 33 and 35 are spaced apart a predetermined fixed amount during the spreading of the liquid. However, spring 59 can be compressed when the pressure generated between the rolls increases considerably. The pressure necessary to move the roll 553 against the force of spring 5 8 is preferably quite a bit greater than the pressure generated in the liquid during the spreading of this liquid so that, for spreading purposes, these rolls may be considered to have a fixed gap. This arrangement, however, has the advantage that the rolls may separate during the passage of the container 26 therebetween. This permits the use of materials for forming the container walls which are, in the aggregate, thicker than the wet thickness of the layer of liquid to be spread. It should be pointed out, however, that the thickness of the container walls may be provided for by cutting away that portion of the image-receiving layer 26 immediately underneath th container, thus recessing the container into the liquid-confiiung layer i2. Obviously the same result can be achieved by cutting away a similar portion of the photosensitive layer It.

In Fig. 4 there is shown another transverse sectional view of the product of Fig. 1 during the use thereof, this sectional view being taken through the image area portion of the product. This view shows the creation of the predetermined uniform layer of liquid 30 in the image area portion of the product and also illustrates an important characteristic of the viscous liquid which permits elimination of edge leakage when the edges of the two liquid-confining layers In and I2 are not sealed together. Prevention of this edge leakage is accomplished by relieving the end portions of the rolls 30 and 38 which engage the marginal portions of the liquid-confining layers l and I2. This arrangement of the pressure rolls relieves the pressure at the margins of the two layers i0 and 12 so that any transversely flowing liquid existing between these marginal portions is thus relieved of its pressure. The release of the pressure is sufficient, due to the viscosity of the liquid, to prevent any further tendency on the part of this portion of the liquid to flow transversely of the product. The marginal portions of the liquid, therefore, are held inwardly of the edges of the two liquid-confining layers It and i2 and are confined between these two layers. It should be pointed out that this method of preventing this edge leakage additionally requires the use of an excess amount of liquid in the container over that which would ordinarily be required to just cover the image area 22 to the predetermined desired thickness of spread liquid.

In preferred forms of the invention the various elements preferably comprise materials stated as being preferable in my copending application Serial No. 7,795, filed February 12, 1948, now Patent No. 2,647,056. In one preferred form of the invention the photosensitive layer It comprises a relatively fast gelatino silver halide emulsion coated on a paper base it. In this case the liquid-confining layer 12 may comprise two baryta paper layers 18 and 20, each layer being approximately .006 inch thick and these layers being suitably laminated together. At least the surface of the image area 22 is preferably treated as set forth in the following nonlimiting example:

Example 1 Baryta paper is run through a bath which is kept in contact with the baryta surface for approximately ten seconds, the bath comprising:

Cadminum acetate grams 9 Neutral lead acetate do .3 Zinc nitrate do 18 Water cc 100 The sheet thus obtained is dried and coated with a mixture comprising:

Water cc 270 Cadmium acetate "grams" 27.8 Lead acetate do 9.3 Zinc nitrate do 55.6 Silica aerogel (Santocel C) d0 3% solution of sodium sulfide; cc 9a."!

A processing agent is prepared which comprises:

Grams Water 1860 Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 117 Sodium sulfite 78 Sodium hydroxide 74.6 Sodium thiosulfate", 14.5

8 Citric acid 38.5 Hydroquinone 52 The processing agent is prepared by dissolving the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, for example the commercially available Hercules 1362 medium viscosity type, in the water in a mixer at room temperature, and the solution is mixed therein for approximately one hour. Thereafter, the sodium sulfite, sodium hydroxide, sodium thiosulfate and citric acid are added to the solution, the addition being effected in an inert atmosphere, for example of nitrogen. Upon dissolution of these materials, the hydroquinone is added and the solution is further mixed for an hour at approximately room temperature in a nonoxidizing atmosphere of nitrogen.

The liquid described in Example 2 has a viscosity of approximately 20,000 centipoises at 20 C. As discussed in the last-named copending application, this viscosity may be considerably less than 20,000 centipoises, in fact it may be somewhat lower than 1000 centipoises. However, for best control of spreading and optimum functioning of the liquid-trapping portions, a viscosity.

in excess of 1000 centipoises is preferred. The container 26 preferably comprises a paperbacked lead foil having an inner coating of polyvinyl butyral and having a stronger end seal than the seal along the mouth 28 thereof. Several preferred types of such containers are described in the last-mentioned copending application. The above-described arrangement gives a trapping space 30 which has a depth about .006 inch greater than the .002 inch thickness of the spread layer of liquid in the image area, thus allowing the trapping space to hold approxi mately four times as much liquid as exists per unit area of the image area portion.

When the liquid of Example 2 is spread between the exposed silver halide emulsion layer and the image-receiving layer of Example 1 the developer develops exposed silver halide grains in the emulsion. Concurrently therewith, the silver halide solvent forms soluble complexes with the undeveloped silver halide grains and transports these complexes to the surface of the imagereceiving layer where the complexes are converted to silver by the joint action of the developer and the elements provided in the treatment of Example 1. At the end of about a minute or so, depending upon the particular ingredients involved, the user of the product can remove the processed image area 22 by inserting a fingernail through the hole 25 and tearing out positive image area 22 along the perforation lines 24, thereby revealing the final positive image on the surface of image area 22.

In still another modification of the invention the image-receiving layer 20 may have its surface treated in the manner indicated in the following nonlimiting example:

Example 3 The colloidal silica and alcohol are thoroughlymixed and then added, by drops, to a mixture of the gum arabic and Water. The resulting mixture is applied by roll-coating on the surface of a baryta paper comprising layer 20.

The image-receiving layer prepared in accordance with Example 3 may be used with a liquid of the type set forth in Example 2 or may be employed with a liquid embodying the ingredients set forth in the folowing nonlimiting example:

Example 4 Water cc 1860 Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose-high viscosity grams 10 Sodium carboxymethyl cellulosemedium viscosity -l "grams" 106 Sodium sulfite do 73 Sodium hydroxide do 52.6 Sodium thiosulfate do 14.5 Hydroquinone do 52 Chlorobenzotriazcle do 1.5

When the liquid of Example 4 is spread between the exposed silver halide emulsion layer and the image-receiving layer of Example 3 the developer develops the exposed silver halide grains in the emulsion. Concurrently therewith, the silver halide solvent forms soluble complexes with the undeveloped silver halide grains and transports these complexes to the surface of the image-receiving layer where these complexes are reduced by the joint action of the developer and the strong reducing agent in the silica dispersion coating. This silica dispersion has a maximum particle diameter on the order of .05 micron. Part of the surface of this silica (SiOz) has been converted to silicon hydride (Si- -H), this silicon hydride serving as the reducing agent.

Referring now to Fig. 5 there is shown a method in which a modification of the invention described in Fig. 1 can be used in an apparatus wherein the minimum gap between the pressure rolls is controlled by the thickness of the two liquid-confinin layers. In such an apparatus one of the two rolls is preferab1y provided with a collar on each end thereof, this collar having a height on the order of the thickness desired for the layer of liquid which is to cover the image area 22. In Fig. 5, where like numbers refer to like elements in the precedingfigures, the collared roll is indicated at 52, one of the collars being shown at 5A. In other respects the rolls may be the same as the rolls in the preceding figures. It should be pointed out, however, that the axle ts associated with the lower roll 38, in this case, is normally positioned at about the middle of the slot 45, thereby permitting movement of this roll 38 towards or away from roll 52 in accordance with changes in thickness of the two liquid-confining layers It and !2. Since the edge portions of the two liquid-confining layers I and I 2 are of the same thickness in the trapping portion as in the image area portion the rolls 38 and 52 remain spaced substantially the same distance apart during the spreadin of the liquid between both the image area and trapping portions. However, the cutaway portion 32, associated with the liquid-confining layer l2, provides a greater liquid-receiving space 34 between the two liquid-confining layers in the trapping portion than exists in the image area portion. It should be pointed out that a product useful with such an arrangement of pressure rolls is desirable since the Fig. showing has several ad vantages. In the first place, it permits ready separation of the rolls during the bursting of liquid within its volume.

the liquid-carrying container. In the second place, it compensates for varyin paper thickness durin the spreading of the liquid. This is due to the fact that, if the total of the thickness of the two liquid-confining layers decreases or increases for any reason, such as changes in temperature, humidity or conditions of manufacture, the available gap between the two pressure rolls is automatically reduced or increased to compensate for this change in the total thickness so that the layer of spread liquid remains substantially uniform from day to day and from prodnot to product. A more complete discussion of the construction of a roll of the type shown in Fig. 5 is included in the copending application of Murry N. Fairbank, Serial No. 24,127, filed April 30, 1948, now Patent No. 2,543,160.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, wherein like numbers refer tolike elements in the preceding figures, there are shown several alternative forms of trapping portions which can be embodied in a Fig. 1 type of product. In the illustration of the Figs. 6, 7 and 8 modifications of the invention the first liquid-confining layers It and the containers 26 have been omitted since these elements are preferably formed in the same manner as their corresponding elements in Fig. 1. The Fig. 6 modification relates to a product wherein the liquid-confining layer I 2 comprises the double layer i8, 20 and the trapping portion thereof includes a plurality of cutaway portions comprising perforations 56 extending through the inner layer 213. In a preferred form of the invention a relatively porous outer layer 58 is arranged to absorb the liquid 3% passing through the perforations 56. This porous outer layer 58 is preferably included in place of the corresponding portion of the outer layer it and preferably includes a relatively impervious coating 59 on the back surface of this porous portion. The purpose of this impervious coating 59 is to prevent any possibility of passage of the liquid 3%) completely through the porous material 58 so that there is no danger of the liquid contacting any portion of the camera. In this form of the invention the inner layer 28 preferably comprises baryta paper while the porous material 53 may be chosen from any of a large number of materials such as cloth, gauze, velvet, glass wool, blotting paper or the like, and the impervious coating 59 may comprise a wax or synthetic resin. The other elements, and specific chemical modifications thereof, may comprise materials discussed in connection with the Fig. 1 form of the invention.

In the use of the Fig. 6 modification of the invention the liquid 3c is spread inthe same manner as previously described. When the excess liquid reaches the trapping portion some of the liquid passes through the perforations 5t, filling these perforations and being at least partially absorbed by the porous material 58. Other portions of the liquid are confined on the surface of the layer 2c in the trapping region and remain between this surface of the layer 25! and the superposed liquid-confining layer II].

In the Fig. 7 modification of the invention there is shown an arrangement of the Fig. 1. form of the invention which is particularly adapted for use with a liquid 38 having a relatively low viscosity. In this Fig. 7 form, the hole in the inner layer 2%, defined by the cutaway portions 32 thereof, is filled with a relatively porous mate rial til which is capable of confinin the trapped This modification of the Fig. 1 form works in the same manner as discussed in connection with Fig. l, with the additional refinement that the trapped liquid is held in the trapping space by absorption within the interstices of the porous material. This porous material 60 can be chosen from materials mentioned in the discussion of porous material 58.

In Fig. 8 there is shown still another modification of the invention of Fig. 1 wherein the inner layer of the liquid-confining layer i2 is out completely off at 02 to form a space as in the trapping portion. This form of the invention has the advantage that there is provided a somewhat greater trapping volume per unit of length of the trapping portion, other conditions being the same. The Fig. 8 modification is preferably used with the Fig. 4 type of pressure roll 1. e., one where there is provided a fixed gap.

In the discussion of the various drawings, the liquid-confining layer it) has been described as carrying the photosensitive portion, this being the preferred form when a positive silver image is to be created on the image area 22 since the image area, after processing, may be rcmoved from the two superposed layers, thus leaving the trapped liquid between these two layers. However, the photosensitive portion may be carried by layer l2 instead of by layer iii. Equally it is quite possible for both layers it and E2 to include photosensitive portions, as described in my copending application Serial No. 729,579, filed February 19, 1947, now Patent No. 2,565,376.

In numerous types of photography, involving a number of various photographic processes, it may be desirable to have two or more liquid carrying containers and perhaps several photosensitive layers so arranged in superposed rela tionship as to be processed simultaneously. Examples of such uses are the X-ray photography field, twoand three-color photography and processes of the type wherein it is desirable to spread two separate liquids within a film unit and to have the reactions, accomplished by the liquids, spaced in time. A product particularly adaptable for such uses, and embodying the present invention, is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. In this figure there are shown two outer liquid confining layers 66 and 68 respectively. There is also shown an inner liquid-confining layer iii. A first liquid-carrying container 72 is positioned to discharge its contained liquid 13 between liqind-confining layers 66 and 30. A second liquid-carrying container M is positioned to discharge its contained liquid 75 between liquidconfining layers 53 and "iii. The trapping portion of such a product is shown, in one preferred form, as comprising a space 76 preferably formed by punching a hole through the liquid-confining layer 70, this hole being large enough to give a volume adequate to receive all excess liquid spread from both containers l2 and M. Ob viously any of the other types of trapping arrangements shown in the preceding figures may be utilized in lieu of the hole mentioned above. The specific arrangement of the photosensitive layer or layers may take numerous forms depend ing upon the type of process involved. For example, where the product is to be used in X-ray photography the inner liquid-confining layer '10 may comprise a base having a photosensitive silver halide layer on each surface thereof. In this case the two liquids l3 and 15, which are spread across the two silver halide layers, may develop and fix latent negative images in the two silver halide layers and may also create two positive images on the facing surfaces of the outer liquid-confining layers 66 and 68. For X-ray use the outer liquid-confining layers t6 and 68 may include light-opaque strata and at least one of these layers may have a portion thereof transparent to X-rays. In this form the two outer layers are preferably sealed together at the edges thereof since no separation of either layer 66 or 68 from the photosensitive portion of the product is required for exposure thereof. It should also be noted in connection with the Fig. 9 modification that two sets of containers are shown in sequential arrangement, the product comprising, arranged in order therealong, a liquid-containing portion, an image area portion, a trapping portion, another liquid-containing portion, etc. This arrangement illustrates a preferred embodiment of the previous modifications which was mentioned in the dis cussion thereof. In those cases where only one photosensitive layer is included in the product of Fig. 9, one of the liquid-carrying containers may include an image-forming reagent while the other liquid-carrying container may include a stabilizing or background-forming reagent. Examples of such processes are shown in my copending application Serial No. 700,931, filed October 3, 1946, now Patent No. 2,607,685.

In any or all of the various above-described modifications of the invention, the trapping efliciency of the trapping portion may be improved by including in said trapping portion, in position to be dissolved by the liquid, an insolubilizing agent capable of insolubilizing the film-forming material which is preferably included in the processing liquid for increasing the viscosity thereof. Such an insolubilizing agent is particularly helpful in forms of the invention wherein the image area is inseparable from the lamination formed of the two liquid-confining layers and the spread layer of liquid. In such a case the removal of the processed image area may expose the thick layer of trapped liquid which, due to its high volume to surface ratio, may still be quite wet even though the image area portion of the spread liquid is completely dry. This may permit the liquid to be accidentally wiped off by the users clothing or fingers, a rather undesirable occurrence. However, the insolubilizing agent converts the mass of trapped liquid to a relatively solid gel which does not readily stick to the users clothing or hands if accidentally contacted thereby. This insolubilizing agent may also serve the function of preventing the trapped liquid from slowly seeping out of the trapping surface in the event that the camera, for example, in which this product is used, is so positioned that the plane of the pressure rolls is horizontal.

The degree of gelation of the mass of trapped liquid in the trapping portion depends upon a number of factors, such as the rate of the insolubilizing reaction, the concentration of the insolubilizable film-forming material in the liquid, the concentration and solubility of the insolubilizing agent in the trapping portion and the porosity of the trapping portion to water or other solvent for the film-forming material.

The insolubilizing reagent may take a number of forms depending upon the film-forming organic colloid employed. Where, for example, the film-forming material comprises sodium carboxymethyl cellulose the insolubilizing reagent preferably comprises an amphoteric polyvalent metal salt. This salt is preferably capable of lowering the high pH, preferably employed with the developer, or is present along with an acid for accomplishing this neutralization. Examples of such salts are lead salts, such as the acetates and nitrates which are readily soluble, zinc nitrate, stannous chloride, aluminum chloride, and others. The lead salts are particularly preferred since they form what appears to be a cross-linked three-dimensional plastic. One convenient way of applying these salts to the trapping portion of Fig. 1, for example, is to coat the upper surface of layer [8 with a relatively high concentration of these salts, such as by passing surface in contact with a water bath containing 40% by weight of lead acetate. When layer 28, ing cutaway portion 32 therein, is superposed with layer is to form the composite liquid-con fining layer I2, the high concentration of the lead acetate is efiective upon the liquid only in trapping portion. It is apparent that the high concentration of the insolubilizing reagent may be applied in numerous other ways such as by spraying, painting, printing, etc. When a porous material is additionally included in the trapping portion it may be dipped in a bath of the insolubilizing reagent before being applied to the film construction, the reagent being preferably so situated as not to decrease the porosity of the absorbent material.

Other film-forming materials which can be used are, for example, the sodium salt of polymethacrylic acid, the sodium salt of cellulose acetate hydrogen phthalate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose having a degree of substitution of about 0.3 to 0.4 carboxymethyl groups per glucose unit and hydroxyethyl cellulose having i less than about 0.5 combined ethylene oxide per lucose unit. These film-forming materials are such that their solubility decreases markedly When the pH drops below about 7. To insolubilize these materials an acid, such as maleic acid, or an acid salt, such as stannous chloride, may be incorporated in the trapping area to neutralize the high pH of the liquid and lower it below 7, thereby rendering these film-forming materials relatively insoluble. With the poly methacrylic acid salt the metal ion may additionally act to replace the sodium ion and thus give a three-dimensional plastic. When a plastic such as polyvinyl alcohol is used as the filmforming material, this being feasible where the developing agent, i. e., hydroquinone, is included in dry form in one of the liquid-confining layers, the insolubilizing reagent may comprise a number of materials such, for example, as sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and potassium sulfate.

While specific preferred forms of the invention have been shown in the drawings and discussed in connection therewith it should be manifest that numerous modifications may be made in the physical relationships of the various elements, as well as in the chemical processes involved, without departing from the scope of the invention. The photosensitive material may comprise numerous substances other than a silver halide such, for example, as a dichromate, a diazonium compound and others. The spectral response of the photosensitive material may range from the radiation associated with radium and X-rays to theinfrared. Various portions of the liquid-confining layers may be opaque or transparent, depending upon the sensitivity of the photosensitive materials, the method of ex posure and the handling thereof after exposure and during processing. For example, if the exposure and processing of the photosensitive emulsion is carried out completely within a camera both of the liquid-confining layers may be transparent. With this form the edges of the liquidconfining layers, at least between the container and trapping portions, are preferably sealed together. This arrangement of transparent layers is desirable in a number of instances such, for example, as the processing to obtain positive projection transparencies. Various other degrees of transparency, translucency or opacity may be employed to fit the requirements of any particular case.

While several specific examples. of preferred processes for obtaining positive silver images have been illustrated, numerous modifications thereof may be practiced. For example, only a portion of the Processing reagents need be included in the liquid, it being feasible to place a number of these reagents in or on either of the two liquid-confining layers M3, E2 in dry form. Additionally, the processes may be directed to developing a negative rather than to the formation of a positive. In this latter case the liquid 39 may comprise ingredients listed in the iollowing nonlimiting example:

Example 5 Grams 5% water solution of medium. viscosity sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 10-3 Sodium sulfite 15 Sodium hydroxide :30 Hydroquinone 12 Zinc dust 1 Sodium sulfate 1 Sodium thiocyanate 15 sodium thiosulfate i 5 With such a liquid, the liquid-confining layer ill, including photosensitive layer l6, preferably comprises a sheet of Motion Picture Release Positive film having an opaque backing, and the liquid-confining layer 12 includes an upper surface 22 prepared in accordance with the following nonlimiting example:

Example 6 A sheet of plain baryta paper is dipped in a solution containing .12 gram lead acetate and cc. of water, the sheet being in contact with the bath for 2.5 seconds. The sheet is next dipped in a solution containing .12 gram sodium sulfide and 100 cc. of water, the sheet being in contact with the second bath for 2.5 seconds.

In the use of the last-described embodiment of the invention the product is exposed by radiation passing through opaque strata in the liquidconfining layers and is processed by spreading the liquid as previously mentioned. When the liquid of Example 5 exists between the negative and the surface prepared in accordance with Example 6, the sodium thiocyanate softens the gelatin of the negative to assist in dissolving silver halide which remains undeveloped during the development of the negative. The lead sul iide in the surface stratum of liquid-confining layer 2t forms precipitation nuclei upon which the silver complexes may precipitate their contained silver. The zinc dust also contributes to the release of silver by replacing silver in the complex. Thus the combination of materials employed gives a fast development of the negative and a complete fixation thereof, this fixation being greatly accelerated by the strong precipitation of silver from the complex, thereby forcing the fixing reaction in the desired direction. At least some of the lead released by the alkaline liquid from the surface of the liquid confining layer l2 slowly forms an insoluble salt by cross-linking the sodium carboxyrnethyl cellulose, thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the film formed as the result of the drying of the liquid. Thus the formed film of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose may be readily stripped, as a body, from the negative after processing thereof. In the above processing the sodium sulfate has been found to harden the gelatin of the negative during the latter portion of the processing so that the negative obtained may be handled without danger of scratching.

A number of other image-forming and imagetransfer processes, which may be used with the above-described invention, are described in my copending application Serial No. 7,795, filed February 12, 1948.

The various products of the present invention have been shown in the form of two sheets, one of which carries the container and the trapping portion. It should be apparent that one sheet, for example the liquid-confining layer l9, may carry the container while the other sheet, for example liquid-confining layer 12, may include the trapping portion. This is particularly true when the arrangement is such that these sheets are either used in their superposed relation or are so related to each other that they may be readily and accurately superposed during processing. The two sheets may be separately rolled into two rolls, with the outer ends thereof connected, so that two sheets can be fed from their two rolls into predetermined superposed relation, this being a preferred arrangement of the invention. However, it is equally possible for the two liquidconfining layers to be superposed in the form of a single unit and sealed at the edges. As explained previously, this modification is particularly useful when one or both of the layers is relatively transparent to the radiation used to expose the photosensitive material.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and, not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A photographic product comprising a rupturable container holding a liquid, a sheet support, said container being mounted upon a first outer surface of said support and extending transversely of said surface for spreading of its liquid content lengthwise of said surface upon rupture of the container, said surface of said support having a portion extending from said container in a direction longitudinally of said support and providing an elongated liquidreceiving area adjacent said container over which liquid from said container is adapted to be spread, said liquid being in a quantity more than sufficient to cover said liquid-receiving area upon rupture of said container and the spreading of said liquid upon said surface, said sheet support being continued beyond the end of said liquid-receiving are furthest removed from said container to provide an extension portion where liquid in excess of that required to cover said liquid-receiving area is adapted to be collected, said extension portion being provided in at least one part thereof with a face which is located between said surface of said support and another surface of the support which provides a second outer surface, wall means extending from said face to said firstmentioned surface, said wall means in conjunction with said face defining at least one space between the longitudinal margins of said support which is smaller than said liquid-receiving area and which is open to access by said liquid, and said product containing at least one photographic reagent from the class consisting of the silver halide developers and the silver halide solvents, said reagent being soluble in said liquid and being rendered effective upon rupture of said container and the spreading of said liquid over said liquidreceiving area.

2. A photographic product comprising a rupturable container holding a liquid, and a sheet support, said container being mounted on one surface of said support and extending transversely of said surface for spreading of its liquid content lengthwise of said surface upon rupture of the container, said support having a part thereof spaced from said container in a direction lengthwise of said support and provided with at least one portion having a face positioned inwardly of said surface in a direction depthwise of said support and located between the margins of said support whereby said support is provided with at least one portion which is in sunken relation to said surface, and said surface between said container and the sunken portion being adapted to have the container contents spread thereon upon rupture of said container and the sunken portion providing means for receiving and retaining liquid from said container in excess of that spread on said surface of said support between said container and said sunken portion, said container holding a quantity of liquid more than sufficient to cover said surface between said container and said sunken portion upon the rupture of said container and the spreading of said liquid over said surface and said sunken portion being smaller in area than the area of said surface located between said container and said sunken portion, and said sheet support including a photosensitive silver halide portion adjacent that surface of said support adapted to be contacted by liquid from said container.

3. A photographic product comprising a rupturable container holding a liquid, and a sheet support, said container being mounted on one surface of said support and extending transversely of said surface for spreading of its liquid con tent lengthwise of said surface upon rupture of the container, said support having a part thereof spaced from said container in a direction lengthwise of said support and provided with at least one portion having a face positioned inwardly of said surface in a direction depthwise of said support and located between the margins of said support whereby said support is provided with at least one portion which is in sunken relation to said surface, and said surface between said container and the sunken portion being adapted to have the container contents spread thereon upon rupture of said container and the sunken portion providing means for receiving and retaining liquid from said container in excess of that spread on said surface of said support between said container and said sunken portion, said container holding a quantity of liquid more than sufficient to cover said surface between said container and said sunken portion upon the rupture of said container and the spreading of said liquid over said surface and said sunken portion being smaller in area than the area of said surface located between said container and said sunken portion, and said product containing at least one photographic reagent from the class .consisting of the silver halide developers and the silver halide solvents, said reagent being soluble in said liquid and being rendered effective upon rupture of said container and the spreading of said liquid over said surface of said support.

4. A photographic product as defined in claim .3 wherein said sheet support is provided with a single sunken portion which extends transversely of said support and which is located inwardly of the longitudinal margins of said support.

5. A photographic product as defined :in claim ,3 wherein the means for receiving and retaining excess liquid is provided by a plurality of sunken portions each comprising a small recess extending depthwise of said support from said surface.

6. A photographic product as defined in claim 3 wherein said sheet Support is provided with a sunken portion which extends entirely across the support from side to side thereof and is out through the longitudinal margins of said sheet support.

7. A photographic product as defined in claim ,3 wherein the material of said support adjacent said sunken portion is more absorbent of said liquid in said container than is the material forming the remainder .of said support.

.8. A photographic product comprising a sheet having a base, a layer, having a width substantially equal to the width of said base, superposed and mounted on said base, and a rupturable container holding a liquid, said container being mountedupon said layer in a position to extend transversely thereof "whereby upon rupture of the container the liquid content of the container may be spread on said layer in apdirection lengthwise of said sheet, a portion of said layer extending from saidcontainer lengthwise .of the layer for a predetermined distance and providingan image area on the surface thereof for receiving .a photographic image .-by transfer, said container holding more than a sufficient quantity of liquid to cover said image area portion upon the release of said liquid and the spreading thereof, said layer at the end of the image area portion thereof that is furthest from said container being provided with at least one recess in a portion thereof that extends transversely of said layer and is adjacent said end of said image area, said recess extending through said layer to said base and providing means for receiving and collecting excess liquid spread oversaid layer, and said product containing at least one photographic reagent from the class consisting of the silver halide developers and the silver halide solvents, said reagent being soluble in said liquid and being rendered effective upon rupture of said container and the spreading of said liquid over said image area. i

' 9. A photographic product comprising a sheet having a base, a layer, having a width substantially equal to the width of said base, superposed and mounted on said base, and a rupturable container holding a liquid, said container being mounted upon said layer in a position to extend transversely thereof whereby upon rupture of the container the liquid content of the container may be spread on said layer in adireotion lengthwise of saidsheet, a portion of said layer extending from said container lengthwise of the layer for a predetermined distance and providing an image area on the surface thereof for receiving a photographic image by transfer, said container holding more than a sufficient quantity of liquid to cover said image area portion upon the release of said liquid and the spreading thereof, said layer at the end of the image area portion thereof that is furthest from said container being provided with at leastone recess in a portion thereof that extends transversely of said layer and is adjacent said end of said image area, said recess extending through said layer to said base and providing means for receiving and collecting excess liquid spread over said layer, and said sheet including a photosensitive silver halide portion adjacent that surface of the sheet adapted to be contacted by liquid from said container.

10. A photographic product as defined in claim 1 wherein an organic film-forming material is contained in said liquid and said extension portion for receiving excessliquid has incorporated therein a substance reactable with said film-forming material to decrease the solubility thereof.

11. A photographic product as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid comprises an aqueous solution of an organic film-forming material and said sheet support has a substance reactable with said film-forming material to decrease the solubility thereof, the concentration of said substance being higher in said extension portion for receiving said excess liquid than in the remainder of said support.

12. A photographic product comprising a rupturable container holding a liquid, a sheet support, said container being mounted upon one surface of said support and extending across surface for spreading of its liquid content over said surface upon rupture of the container, a portion of said support extending from a location adjacent said container for -a predetermined length and providing on said surface a liquidreceiving area over which the liquid from the container is adapted to be spread, said container being mounted on said surface for releasing its liquid content for spreading over said area and said liquid being in a quantity more than sufficient to coversaid liquid-receiving area, a portion of said support extending from a location adjacent the end of the first-mentioned support portion that is furthest removed from said container and forming a continuation of said support on which liquid in excess of that required to cover said liquid-receiving area is collectable, the second-mentioned support portion being provided in at least one part thereof with a face which is located between that surface of said support having said container mounted thereon and another surface of the support which provides the outer surface of the support mrthest removed from said container, and spaced-apart wall meansextending from at least an opposite pair of edges of saiclface in said second-mentioned portion to said surface upon which said container is mounted, saidwall means in conjunction with said surface defining at least one space between the longitudinal margins of said support which is smaller than said liquid-receiving area of the first-mentioned support portion and which is open to access by said liquid, and wherein said product contains at least one photographic reagent from theclass consisting of the silver halide developers and "the silver halide solvents, said reagent being soluble in said liquid and being rendered effective upon rupture of said container and the spreading of said liquid over said liquidreceiving area.

13. A photographic product containing-"material, including a photographic reagent, for pro- 19 ducing a transformation of an image in said product, said reagent being present in an amount sumcient to effect said transformation, said product comprising two outer liquid-confining layers and an intermediate liquid-confining layer which are superposed on each other, at least two rupturable containers, one container being mounted between each said outer layer and the intermediate liquid-confining layer and each said rupturable container holding a viscous liquid adapted to be spread between and in contact with the inner surface of each outer layer and thesurface of said intermediate layer closest to said outer layer, at least one of said layers including a photosensitive material which forms at least a part of the surface of said layer adapted to be contacted by said liquid and which, upon photoexposure, is capable of having an image formed in a predetermined area thereof and providing an image area portion, and at least one of the other layers having a portion provided with an area on that surface thereof adapted to be contacted by said liquid and which is similar to said photosensitive image area portion and which is in register therewith to receive an image by transfer from said photosensitive image area portion, each said rupturable container being mounted to extend transversely of said layers at a position adjacent one edge of said image area on a layer with which it is associated, the liquid in one of said containers being in excess of the amount required for transforming said image in said photosensitive image area portion, said liquid, upon rupture of said containers, being adapted to be discharged therefrom and spread between the faces of said layers, said intermediate liquid-confining layer, at a location adjacent the edges of the registered image areas of said product which are furthest removed from said containers, being provided with at least one opening which extends there- 'through and which is located in a transversely extending portion of said intermediate layer adjacent said edges of the registered image areas and providing means for receiving and colletcing excess liquid spread between said layers, said reagent being rendered effective for transforming said image in said photosensitive material by liquid permeated into said photosensitive material from said containers, and said photosensitive material comprising a salt of the class consisting of (a) the photosensitive dichromates; (b) the photosensitive diazonium salts; and heavy ,metal salts capable of forming a latent image upon photoexposure and capable of development to produce a visible image comprising the metal of said salt.

14. A photographic product comprising a liquid-confining layer, a photosensitive material capable of having a photographic record formed therein upon photoexposure and supported upon said liquid-confining layer, said photosensitive material extending longitudinally and transversely of aid liquid-confining layer, another liquid-confining layer, said liquid-confining layers being superposable on each other so that said photosensitive material is located between said liquid-confining layers, each liquid-confining layer being provided with an image area on the surface thereof which is adapted to be located directly opposite the other liquid-confining layer when said layers are superposed, said image areas being similar to each other, a rupturable container holding a liquid, said container being mounted to extend across one of said layers at a location adjacent one end of the image area of 20 the layer upon which it is mounted, means foi holding said two liquid-confining layers together with said image areas located in overlying relation and with said container positioned between said layers adjacent a common end of said image areas, whereby said liquid-confining layers may be superposed and urged substantially into contact with each other by pressure-applying means which apply pressure to the outer surfaces of said liquid-confining layers and through which said product is movable for effecting the rupture of said container and the release and spreading of its liquid between said liquid-confining layers, said container holding liquid in an amount in excess of that required to cover said image areas whereby a portion of each liquid-confining layer at a location adjacent the end of each said image area furthest removed from said container is adapted to receive the excess liquid, each excess liquid-receiving portion of each said liquid-confining layer being smaller in area than each said image area, means for relieving the pressure applied to the exterior surfaces of said liquid-confining layers over a part at least of said excess liquid-receiving portions to permit said excess liquid to collect therebetween, said means comprising the provision, in the excess liquid-receiving portion of a first one of said liquid-confining layers and in that surface thereof which includesthe image area, of at least one face positioned inwardly of said surface in a direction depthwise of said first layer whereby said first liquid-receiving layer is provided with at least one portion which is in sunken relation to said surface thereof and which is open to access by said liquid, said sunken portion being located between the longitudinal margins of said first liquid-confining layer and having an area smaller than said excess liquid-receiving portion, said product containing a photographic reagent adapted to participate in transforming a photographic record of said photosensitive material to a picture image, said reagent being rendered effective for transforming said photographic record by liquid permeated into said photosensitive material from said container, said photosensitive material comprising a salt of the class consisting of (la) the photosensitive dichromates; (b) the photosensitive diazonium salts;. and (0) heavy metal salts capable of forming a latent image upon photo-- exposure and capable of development to produce a visible image comprising the metal of said salt.

15. A photographic product comprising a liquid-confining layer,v a silver halide emulsion coated on said liquid-confining layer to extend longitudinally and transversely of said liquidconfining layer, another liquid-confining layer, said liquid-confining layers being superposable on. each other so that said silver halide emulsion is located between said liquid-confining layers, each liquid-confining layer being provided with an image area on the surface thereof which is adapted to be located directly opposite the other liquid-confining layerwhen said layers are superposed, said image areas being similar to each other, a rupturable container holding a liquid, said container being mounted to extend across one of said layers at a, location adjacent one end of the image area of the layer upon, which it is mounted, means forholdingsaid two liquid-confining-layers together with said image areas located in overlying relation and with said container positioned between said layers adjacent a common end of said image areas,

whereby said liquid-confining layers may be superposed and urged substantially into contact with each other by pressure-applying means which apply pressure to the outer surfaces of said liquid-confining layers and through which said product is movable for effecting the rupture of said container and the release and spreading of its liquid between said liquid-confining layers, said container holding liquid in an amount in xcess of that required to cover said image areas whereby a portion of each liquid-confining layer at a location adjacent the end of each said image area furthest removed from said container provides a surface for receiving the excess liquid, each excess liquid-receiving portion of each said liquid-confining layer being smaller in area than each said image area, and means for relieving the pressure applied to the exterior surfaces of said liquid-confining layers over a part at least of said excess liquid-receiving portions to permit said excess liquid to collect therebetween, said means comprising the provision, in the excess liquid-receiving portion of a first one of said liquid-confining layers and in that surface thereof which includes the image area, of at least one face positioned inwardly of said surface in adirection depthwise of said first layer whereby said first liquid-receiving layer is provided with at least one portion which is in sunken relation to said surface thereof and which is open to access by said liquid, said sunken portion being located between the longitudinal margins of said first liquid-confining layer and having an area smaller than said excess liquid-receiving portion, said product containing a silver halide developer soluole in said liquid and in an amount suflicient to develop a latent image in said silver halide emulsion, said developer being rendered efiective by liquid permeated into said silver halide emu sion from said container.

16. A photographic product as defined in claim 15 wherein said product also contains a silver halide solvent.

References (Ii-ted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 841,699 Lawson Jan. 22', 1907 927,543 Irvin July 13, 1909 1,826,695 Favour Oct. 6, 1931 2,088,068 Overbaugh July 27, 1937 2,209,914 Gerber July 30, 1940 2,347,640 Peters May 2, 194% FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 815,877 France Apr. 19, 1937 

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT COMPRISING A RUPTURABLE CONTAINER HOLDING A LIQUID, A SHEET SUPPORT, SAID CONTAINER BEING MOUNTED UPON A FIRST OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SURFACE FOR SPREADING OR ITS LIQUID CONTENT LENGTHWISE OF SAID SURFACE OF SAID SUPRUPTURE OF THE CONTAINER, SAID SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID CONTAINER IN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SUPPORT AND PROVIDING AN ELONGATED LIQUID-RECEIVING AREA ADJACENT SAID CONTAINER OVER WHICH LIQUID FROM SAID CONTAINER IS ADAPTED TO BE SPREAD, SAID LIQUID BEING IN A QUANTITY MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO COVER SAID LIQUID-RECEIVING AREA UPON RUPTURE OF SAID CONTAINER, AND THE SPREADING OF SAID LIQUID UPON SAID SURFACE, SAID SHEET SUPPORT BEING CONTINUED BEYOND THE END OF SAID LIQUID-RECEIVING ARE FURTHEST REMOVED FROM SAID CONTAINER TO PROVIDE AN EXTENSION PORTION WHERE LIQUID IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED TO COVER SAID LIQUID-RECEIVING AREA IS ADAPTED TO BE COLLECTED, SAID EXTENSION PORTION BEING PROVIDED IN AT LEAST ONE PART THEREOF WITH A FACE WHICH IS LOCATED BETWEEN SAID SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT AND ANOTHER SURFACE OF THE SUPPORT WHICH PROVIDES A SECOND OUTER SURFACE, WALL MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID FACE TO SAID FIRSTMENTIONED SURFACE, SAID WALL MEANS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAID FACE DEFINING AT LEAST ONE SPACE BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL MARGINS OF SAID SUPPORT WHICH IS SMALLER THAN SAID LIQUID-RECEIVING AREA AND WHICH IS OPEN TO ACCESS BY SAID LIQUID, AND SAID PRODUCT CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE PHOTOGRAPHIC REAGENT FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF THE SOLVENTS, HALIDE DEVELOPERS AND THE SILVER HALIDE SOLVENTS, SAID REAGENT BEING SOLUBLE IN SAID LIQUID AND BEING RENDERED EFFECTIVE UPON RUPTURE OF SAID CONTAINER AND THE SPREADING OF SAID LIQUID OVER SAID LIQUIDRECEIVING AREA. 